Dwight Leonard Gustafson

DWIGHT LEONARD GUSTAFSON (b. 1930) is now dean emeritus of the School of Fine Arts at Bob Jones University after having served as dean for 43 years. His serious interest in music composition began during graduate studies in church music at Bob Jones University, where he earned both Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees. He earned the Doctor of Music degree in Composition from Florida State University, where he was the recipient of a graduate fellowship.

His choral and instrumental works are widely performed, and his compositions are found in the catalogs of several U.S. music publishers. His orchestral works have been performed by the Bob Jones University Symphony Orchestra and orchestras across the United States.

In addition to shorter choral and instrumental works, his compositions include three one-act operas, an oratorio, and the scores for four feature-length films produced by the University's Department of Cinema and Video Production.

He continued an active schedule of teaching, composing and conducting, including guest conducting for the Bob Jones University Symphony Orchestra and the University Opera Association for several more years, but he has now retired. He still assists with choral and orchestral guest conducting. Recent major orchestral works include "Encounters," a violin concerto, and "Fantasia for a Celebration," commissioned by the Williamsburg Symphonia as part of the city of Williamsburg's 300-year celebration. His most recent work is a Christmas opera, Simeon.

He has been active as a conductor for high school all-state choirs and orchestras and still regularly conducts church choir clinics and speaks on church music topics throughout the United States.